The Female Quotient

USA Basketball has named Glossier, Inc. as the first beauty brand to partner with USA Basketball Women’s National Team, celebrating the excellence of women in sports. Recently, we’ve seen #womenssports breaking records. Firsts. Wins, on and off the courts. 2023 was a big year for #womeninsport… and there are no signs of slowing down. In fact, women’s sports are projected to rake in over $1 billion in revenue in 2024, setting a new revenue record. The partnership is USA Basketball’s first beauty partnership in its 50-year history and its first women’s specific partnership in nearly three decades. Further proof that brands are meeting the moment for women athletes!

“I have Down Syndrome and it is the least interesting thing about me.” Madison Tevlin starred in a recent viral campaign raising awareness about the assumptions of those with Down Syndrome, and we had the privilege of meeting her in the FQ Interview Studio. The campaign shares,“Assume that I can, so maybe I will.” Marta Sodano, an Italian woman with Down syndrome, said, “The whole point of this video is to end those stereotypes of people living with Down Syndrome. Many times, people with disabilities are presumed to be unable to care for themselves or unable to make their own decisions and that’s not the case.” Our unconscious biases and assumptions of those with Down Syndrome shouldn’t determine their reality. Empower someone to fulfill their potential... and they probably will. Madison’s confidence, spirit, and encouragement are contagious! Don’t forget: “Be powerful, be bold, be brave. Make it normal.”

Sing it with us: We’re not family, please treat me professionally 🎶 🎥 ClickUp

“I certainly believe in the need for sexuality education, I do believe that it has to be taught based on scientifically validated data, and it has to be taught with some kind of humor,” shared Dr. Ruth. Dr. Ruth Westheimer led an extraordinary life. Losing both her parents in the Holocaust and forced to live in an orphanage, she eventually emigrated to the United States, where she rose to become an internationally-celebrated sex therapist, author, talk show host and professor. Working at Planned Parenthood in East Harlem, NYC, in the 60s, Westheimer trained professionals to be family planning counselors. She quickly realized there was a void in family and sex therapy. She once shared, “I knew that there is a lot of knowledge that is around but doesn’t get to young people.” WYNY-FM community manager Betty Elam was looking for a volunteer to help fill radio air time. “I thought she had the perfect voice to talk about these subjects because she sounded grandmotherly and had the perfect attitude,” Elam recalled. “She could say things and people would be shocked, but they wouldn’t be offended by it.” People certainly tuned in and her career took off. “Dr. Ruth took the shame out of sex, by emphasizing love and pleasure in its place, and she had that great giggle,” said Anka Radakovich, who wrote a groundbreaking sex column in Details magazine. “She influenced a whole new generation of women to pursue the field.” Thank you, Dr. Ruth.

PSA: Periods are normal. Did you know that menstrual cups have been around since the 1930s but have only recently gained popularity? They’re still not the most popular option, but they are more cost effective, environmentally friendly, and arguably, more convenient. Have you tried one?

Grandma’s gonna do what Grandma does best 😌 🎥 @carlybyham via Instagram

🚨PSA: Take those vacation days! They’re a part of your compensation and not taking all of them means you’re leaving money on the table. Time off—guilt-free—helps avoid burnout. We often think that resting or taking a break is a waste of time but in fact, the opposite is true. #Rest is critical not only for our health but for our productivity and creativity too! It’s good for you. It’s good for your team. It’s good for business. #PTO #vacation

Alanis Morisette’s daughter is all of us, on every karaoke stage we’ve ever graced. 🎤

“Be great. Be so great they don’t want to believe in you. Then be even greater.” 🎤💥 #SerenaWilliams #ESPYS

“Everyone’s going to go into menopause at some point or another—why shouldn’t we be talking about it?!” You don’t have to be a Hollywood star to relate: if you’re a woman in or approaching menopause, there might be some fear, shame, and anxiety surrounding it—naturally! But Naomi Watts is right. All women *will* get there so we need to put the topic on the table sooner rather than later. It’s conversations like these that are going to shift the entire culture around menopause and help society approach it with more understanding and empathy. Keep it up. Others 👏 are 👏 listening.